‘Peanuts’ Holiday Specials to Stay on ABC Through 2020

Let NBC have their live musicals. Charlie Brown and his friends are sticking with ABC.

The network has extended its deal with Peanuts Worldwide LLC and Lee Mendelson Film Productions to air the classic animated holiday specials “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,” “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” through 2020. The specials, created Charles M. Schulz and based on his “Peanuts” comicstrip characters, began airing on ABC in December 2001.

“We are thrilled that our 13 year association with ABC will now extend to 20 years,” executive producer Mendelson said in a statement. “The network has shown us tremendous support from the start, including restoring the original length to our holiday shows. Charlie Brown and Snoopy are dancing today!”

The “Peanuts” comicstrip launched in seven American newspapers on October 2, 1950 and popularized phrases like “security blanket” and “good grief.” The first of these holiday specials, “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” aired on television in 1965.